On April 16, 2012, our client is set for trial in another case involving the improper administration and monitoring of Propofol. Propofol is the drug that killed Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, administered Propofol to Michael Jackson. Conrad Murray was convicted in a criminal trial for failing to monitor Jackson.
Propofol is a general anesthetic. There are certain benefits to the use of the drug. For example, it is quick acting, leaves a patient amnestic, and does not cause nausea. However, Propofol is also known to cause respiratory problems and can lead to hypoxia, a condition in which the body is deprived of oxygen.
In our case, Heimanson & Wolf represents the daughter of a woman who was undergoing dental implants at an implant center in Orange County, California. According to a dental assistant present for the procedure, the anesthesiologist checked his voicemail from his cell phone while administering Propofol to the patient. The anesthesiologist then ignored warnings that the patient was in distress and refused to get off his cell phone. Thereafter, the anesthesiologist delayed the call to 911, failed to intubate the patient, and did not move the patient out of the dental chair.
Our client’s mother went into respiratory failure from the Propofol. As a result, she suffered a severe brain injury and died several days later.
Trial is set to begin against the anesthesiologist, the dentist, and the dental clinic on April 16, 2012. The case includes causes of action for medical battery and punitive damages as well as medical malpractice.